Do I need to cite sources in a college application essay?

For convenience in a personal essay, it is acceptable to cite sources—especially if you use just one or two—in numbered footnote form at the bottom of the page. However, if you have more than a few sources, a separate section entitled “References” at the end of the essay is best.

Should essays have in-text citations?

MLA citation style requires that writers cite a source within the text of their essay at the end of the sentence in which the source is used. The parenthetical reference should be inserted after the last quotation mark but before the period at the end of the sentence.

Do college essays need to be MLA?

Sometimes, the formatting rules for college application essays are specific. For example, a student may be required to use a given academic writing style such as MLA, APA, Chicago, or Harvard.

Can essays contain citations?

A feature of academic writing is that it contains references to the words, information and ideas of others. All academic essays MUST contain references. Referencing guards against plagiarism, a serious academic offence. Plagiarism is copying someone else’s words or ideas and presenting them as your own.

What format should I write my college application essay in?

> Format Your Document

• Margins: Use a 1” margin on all sides.
• Line Spacing: Use a 1.5 or double line spacing.
• Paragraphs: Indent the first line of each paragraph with a tab.
• Fonts: Use a standard, easy-to-read font like Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri in 12-pt type.

What format should college application essays be in?

A college essay format and general rules are pretty standard. Typically, your admission paper should follow a basic 5-paragraph format. This means you will need to include one introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

How important is the use of in-text citation in writing research paper?

Citing or documenting the sources used in your research serves three purposes: It gives proper credit to the authors of the words or ideas that you incorporated into your paper. It allows those who are reading your work to locate your sources, in order to learn more about the ideas that you include in your paper.

What format should college essays be in?

Should a college application essay be double spaced?

Your essay should always be double-spaced throughout. Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the margin. Use only one space after all end punctuation.

How do you in-text cite an essay?

In-text citations include the last name of the author followed by a page number enclosed in parentheses. “Here’s a direct quote” (Smith 8). If the author’s name is not given, then use the first word or words of the title. Follow the same formatting that was used in the Works Cited list, such as quotation marks.